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The Kenner line of The Real Ghostbusters first hit the stores fulfilling Christmas pre-orders in 1986 (notably the 1986 first print sold out in pre-orders). Later, the toys began to be put on shelves in January of 1987. The line continued being made and sold til the spring of 1991. It had ten waves of toys (based on card rearrangements) with at least one more planned. Notably the line ended during the Kenner and Hasbro merger in 1991.

In 1979, Kenner released "Finger Pops", which were foam cylinders that could be projected in the air. A similar type of product to Nerf like foam products, it was Kenner's answer to Parker Brothers Nerf line. The concept was brought to the Real Ghostbusters line with "Finger Pop Fiends", which along with having the same function also share the name "Finger Pops".

Also in 1979, Kenner released a second toy in the line called "Finger Pops Popper". This item as well was in many regards a precursor to the "GhostPopper", which would be able to fire foam pops. GhostPopper also shares the name Popper and refers to the ammo as "ghostpops" or "pops". The foam pops were also used with the "ECTO Popper & ECTO-Goggles", which uses the same idea and adds temporary storage on the goggles.

The list is based on packaging back cards of the American version line. For releases in other countries/regions please see the Foreign Market Releases section of this article. Sometimes the toy was released with other toys but wasn't included on the back card, in which case its included but noted. A few items were released that didn't have back cards and were not shown included with a wave. Educated guesses are used in those cases.

It is believed that the first wave toys were released during the Christmas season in 1986, mostly to fulfill layaway orders. Officially, the first advertisements appeared, done by Toy's R Us in the newspapers around the end of January 1987. The toy line first wave first printing is believed to have been all the figures, but not the Ghost Zapper or the Plush Toys. Second printing which was released with additions from wave 2 was done sometime in the spring of 1987. A third printing was most likely done for the Christmas season of 1987.

The Action Ghost "Green Ghost" incorrectly was printed in the first and second printing with item number #81020. The toy was given the correct item number on the third pressing.

The second wave was released sometime in the spring of 1987. The Action Ghost assortment (started wave 1) had additions of three ghost action figures. A second pressing for the three Action Ghosts was made for the Christmas season on 1987.

The third wave was likely first released to fulfill layaway orders in the Christmas season of 1987. The first public promotion for the wave didn't happen til mid January of 1988. Initially Fright Feature Janine Melnitz was not released as she wasn't listed on back of card. She was later released in the fourth wave.

The three Mini Ghost toy sets were released with their assortment number of "80400" mistakenly printed on the front of the card as the item number. All three also share the same bar code on the back. The Canada line printed corrected item numbers.

The Fright Features Heroes are the most common of the Hero sets released. They were released in all major foreign markets toy lines, including being the exclusive hero line for Brazil's Caça-Fantasmas released by Estrela.

Wave four was like wave two released in the late spring 1988. Janine saw a release for the first time as a add on toy to the Fright Line from wave three. Along with Haunted Humans, there was two ghosts released that ended up with two printings with errors.

Haunted Humans saw a sequel of sorts in Kenner's Beetlejuice line with Neighborhood Nasties group of four figures in late 1990.

Some sites merge this wave with five or seven, however going by packaging cards it is a clearly released batch of toys during spring/summer of 1989.

This wave is assumed to have been released late spring around May, much like wave four and two. It is unclear why they didn't release this as part of wave seven a few months later, but one of the toys released in the wave didn't appear on the back card til the next wave card.

Besides America, there were seven other lines produced and released. America and the UK releases seemed to be their own lineages from which other lines based their toy packaging and elements on. Also, some of these lines also imported in toys made for other markets.

The Real Ghostbusters from America was the default line made by Kenner. Articles on the wiki are based on these unless not released in America.

The Real Ghostbusters made by Kenner for the country of Canada. It was bilingual and has both English and French language on it. It follows the American lineage exclusively.

The Real Ghostbusters was made by Kenner for the United Kingdom. It took on a different design from the American counterpart, which usually added a glow to illustrations and darker background blue color. Hot color drop shadows were also featured behind the toys on the cardboard.

The Real Ghostbusters/S.O.S Fantômes was made by Kenner for the countries of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Some of the first wave was only translated to French. The line uses the UK lineage.

The Real Ghostbusters made by Kenner for the country of Germany. Year three (1989) likely was not made for German. The line uses the UK lineage.

Gli Acchiappafantasmi made by Kenner for the country of Italy. Of the lines that uses the UK lineage, it is the rarest.

Caça-Fantasmas was made by Estrela for the country of Brazil. This line had used the American lineage, but altered it to fit with the short line. The line was made in 1991, after the American line had ended.

The Real Ghostbusters made by Jocsa for the country of Argentina. The line uses both lineages and even borrows from the Brazil line the year previous. The line featured some exclusive toys, which were altered versions of previously released Kenner toys. The line is noted for a cheap knock-off type quality to the toys. However, the toys were made under license in 1992. Jocsa also sold imports of the toys from America, Canada, France/Belgium/Netherlands, and the UK.

Auriken The Real Ghostbusters Toy Line made by Kenner (America), but relabeled by Auriken for release in Mexico. While Auriken may have made some of the role playing weapons and vehicles sold in the other lines, its packaging was done in America.

Portugal received imports of the UK line by importer LDA. Seemed to vary between year two to year four.

Australia received imports from America, Canada, and the UK.

Spain received imports from France/Belgium/Netherlands by importer Loustau And Sachnovsky, SA. Noted by Gog on Toys from the Past blog, the toys appeared in 1992. It seemed that only year two toys were imported.

During the time of The Real Ghostbusters merchandise wave, many companies had released licensed products based on the cartoons promo art and design sheets. However, in a few causes the merchandise itself was based on the Kenner toy series exclusively.

The Real Ghostbusters: Bubble Bath(Slimer Ecto-Plazm) by DuCair Bioessence Inc. Features the ectoplasm spelled "Ecto-PLazm" like the Kenner line, and on the back the tag line "Proof of a Ghostly Encounter" from the play gel cans.

On page 11 of Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #4, the Firehouse playset box makes a non-canon cameo in panel 1 and 2, on the middle shelf of the shelving on the left.

On page 11 of Get Real Issue #4, the Toy Weapon's box makes a non-canon cameo in panel 1 and 2 on top of the shelving on the left.

On page 6, panel 3, of Ghostbusters Annual 2015, the Ecto Goggles used are visually based on Ecto-Popper and Ecto-Goggles toy. Later, on page 8, in the Ecto-Goggle POV, one of the readings is "1989 MHz" - a possible nod to Ghostbusters II, which released in 1989.

On page 11, panel 2, of Annual 2015, in the hallway, is a Kenner Real Ghostbusters toy line up in the big picture frame. The Terror Trash Ghost is visible on the corner.

On page 17 of Ghostbusters International #1, in the observation tank is the Gulper Ghost from the Classic Hero Figure Egon action figure.

In Ghostbusters International #3, on page 6, in panel 5, on the newspaper, to the left of the Ghostbusters ad is an ad for Kenner's Fright Features line seen in the Schenectady Gazette on June 29, 1988. [1]

In Ghostbusters International #3, on page 8, in panel 4, the box for Kenner's Ecto-Charger Pack toy is on the far right under the table.

In Ghostbusters International #3, on page 19, in panel 3, still in the containment tank is the Gulper Ghost. The box for Kenner's Proton Pack toy makes a non-canon cameo right of the table

The Kenner Ecto-2 is driven by Peter in his animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.

The Kenner Highway Haunter is driven by Janine Melnitz in her animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.

The Kenner Ecto-3 is driven by Egon and Ray in their animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.

The Kenner Ecto-500 is driven by Winston in his animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.

On page 1 of Ghostbusters 101 #3, in panel 1, the ghost is visually based on the Soar Throat Ghost from Kenner's Fright Features Egon Spengler figure. In panel 3, Ms. Zeigler's Proton Pack is visually based on the Kenner Proton Pack. Her Trap is visually based on Kenner's Trap toy.

On page 1 of Ghostbusters 101 #3, in panel 4, in front of Cait is the Kenner Ecto-500.

On page 6 of Ghostbusters 101 #4, in panel 5, in Egon's box, the blue object is Kenner's Nutrona Blaster toy and the text on Egon's box references the Ecto Glow Heroes figures. In panel 6, on the corkboard is Kenner's Real Ghostbusters toys/Ghostbusters II in theatre ad.

On page 18 of Ghostbusters 101 #4, the Ecto-4 is visually based on Kenner's unreleased Glow Copter Vehicle.

On page 3 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #1, The Meanie Wienie mascot is based on the Meanie Wienie Ghost that comes with the Super Fright Feature Winston figure.

On page 18 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #5, in the lower left corner are the H2 Ghost, Brain Matter from the Mini Ghost Figure: Mini Gooper set, and Banshee Bomber from the Gooper Ghost Figures. In the upper right are the Bug-Eye Ghost and Sludge Bucket from the Gooper Ghost Figures.

On Cover B of Ghostbusters Annual 2018, between Egon and Janine is the Bad-To-The-Bone Ghost. Janine is in her New Ghostbusters flight suit and blows a bubblegum bubble like her animated. Kylie wears Kenner's Ecto-Goggles and Ecto-Popper.

On Page 35 of Annual 2018, in panel 2 is a ghost from the Kenner Ecto-Plazm. In panel 3 are three ghosts from the Kenner Classic Hero figures: Grabber Ghost from Peter, Wrapper Ghost from Ray, and Chomper Ghost from Winston. On the right is the Gulper Ghost from Classic Hero Egon.

On Page 36 of Annual 2018, in panel 1, on the left are Tombstone Tackle, Gulper Ghost, and Wrapper Ghost. In panel 1, on the right are X-Cop, Terror Trash, Hard Hat Horror, Pull Speed Ahead Ghost with its T-Stick Ghost, The two Mini-Traps, Fearsome Flush, Brain Blaster Ghost, and Bad-To-The-Bone Ghost.

On Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #5, there are Ecto-Plazm and three ghosts that came with it, a P.K.E. Meter that came with the Proton Pack toy and the unreleased Egon's Lab Toy.

On Page 2 of Crossing Over #5, in panel 5, Slimer 68-R has a watermelon visually based on his Kenner toy accessory.

Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #7 is a nod to Kenner's Classic Hero Ray packaging with Kylie Griffin as the toy. The orange KB Toys price tag is changed to "IDW 7 Cover B". Kylie, Pagan, and Braided Hair Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters are in place of Ray and Wrapper Ghost. The cover artist's last name "Lattie" appears in place of "Kenner". The grammar is changed slightly from "I ain't 'fraid of no ghost" to "I ain't afraid of no ghost". "Ghostbusters Crossing Over" replaces "The Real Ghostbusters" The bottom of the packaging still has the "Action Zapping Ray with Nutrona Blaster". The Proton Pack has a purple proton stream instead of Ray's orange proton stream.